Reading Challenge '12 -- March & April Update

WOW.  It has been an incredibly busy few months.  There is so much going on around here, the days are flying by too quickly, and I am barely keeping up. 

While I haven't been able to devote a lot of time to reading, March and April were earmarked for Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series.  Nine books toward my challenge, done!

My grandmother gave me this set of books for Christmas when I was around seven years old... and I have only just chosen to read them... nutty!  I was never a fan of the Little House television show and I think watching it turned me off reading the books... now that I have read them I would like to go back and watch some of the series.

Overall, the story is really enjoyable... except for The Long Winter... so many blizzards made for a really repetitive (boring) novel.  Being an autobiography, these books really gave accurate insight into life during the late 1800s... there were lots of parts I would love to use in my classroom in the future (should I return to teaching U.S. History).

The last book, The First Four Years, was quite sad.  I won't say anything here to avoid spoiling it for anyone interested in reading them, but it was a bittersweet ending.  After finishing I did some additional research on the Ingalls' family and there is lots of interesting (and unexpected) information out there!

Have you read the Little House books?  Did you enjoy them?

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Who loves tacos?  I do, I do!

As I am sure everyone can gather from several of my previous posts, I love Mexican food... and I especially love easy dishes I can make at home!  Since I am now obsessed with my slow cooker I tried this awesome chicken taco recipe I stumbled across on Pinterest... courtesy of Chocolate Therapy.  Click here for the recipe and directions! (Sarah, the author, has tons of de-lite-ful recipes, be sure to browse around her blog!)

Best part?  Only three ingredients for the chicken.  Yep.  Three.  Chicken breasts, taco seasoning, and the salsa of your choice.  Done... then you can decorate them any way you want!  I personally have a weakness for sour cream  :  )  You can use corn or flour tortillas... I used flour here but not sure why as I am a Corn Tortilla Girl for sure!  (Sidenote: nothing beats a warm corn tortilla with melted butter!  Yum.  I could eat some now.)

As you can see from the photos, I added refried beans (I usually turn to Gebhardt's but recently tried Bush's and I much prefer them)... and Spanish rice (from a family recipe that was probably snagged from somewhere else at some point in time, ha!)

Try these tacos... they are awesome!

Top Five Tuesday: Best Things About Summer

Linking up with Just Peachy for Top Five Tuesday!

Lovely Little Details

Summer is almost here!  Well, for those of us here in North Texas it has pretty much arrived... temps are already in the 80s and 90s... sheesh!

1.  Shorts and flip flops... All. The. Time.

Shorts and flip flops are two of my greatest loves.  Despite my obsession with New England I really do not think I could survive anywhere the mercury drops too low.  I cannot stand having my feet covered :  )

Here is a pic of the super comfy flip flops I purchased recently at a J.Crew Factory store as well as the fabulous LOFT shorts in white and green... The Search for Shorts has ended :  )

2.  Fireflies

I think the firefly population is dwindling... it may be almost non-existant now.  I remember as a child in San Antonio running around outside and seeing lightning bugs all over.  I am not sure I can even tell you the last time I saw one... but I think they are de-lite-ful and oh-so-summery!

As We Write It

Since I could not locate a fun photos of fireflies, here is a photo from the scene in Sweet Home Alabama where they mention lightning bugs... and kiss :  )

3.  Swimming

I love pools... here is a photo of CB in her wading pool last year... she is much bigger now and we are going to have to invest in a new one!  Her swimsuit this year is white with navy anchors... I am way too excited to watch her splash around in all that preppiness!

4.  The feeling of total freedom!

Photo taken at Oasis in Austin

Late nights.  Lounging mornings.  Relaxing.  Slower pace.  Drinking wine outside.  Evening chats.  Family reunions.  Late sunsets.  Road trips.  Being a teacher and not having to go to work for three months.  It is all fabulous!

5.  College football is even closer :  )

Photo taken at Kyle Field, Texas A&M University

I love the lazy days of summer as much as anyone... but the onset of June, July, and August means September is that much closer... and so is college football with the Fightin' Texas Aggies!  Whoop!

What are your favorite things about summer?